?Two weeks since Sekwan walked out, and Kim still felt the door slam in her chest. They’d spoken to Jane and Lisa, who’d passed the word to the rest of the extended group.

  ?Kim hadn’t seen anything like what she imagined a Sasquatch looked like. But she hadn’t pushed it either. She wasn’t willing to risk anyone.

  ?In the distance, she heard a howl. Not a werewolf. A grey wolf.

  ?She took off at a run. She’d hunted with them enough to know when they were calling for her. They wouldn’t do it unless they were in trouble.

  ?She moved through the trees with speed and grace that still amazed even her. She loved being a wolf.

  ?When she burst into a small clearing, she saw them: ten grey wolves—the entire small pack—facing off against what looked like five gorilla men. The Sasquatch had come.

  ?She growled as loud as she could. The other wolves gathered around her. Two were limping, clearly injured. The apes would bleed for that.

  ?One of the Sasquatch looked like it was trying to communicate. Kim went straight for its throat. It struck her hard, but she tore out a chunk.

  ?The other wolves leaped into the fray. Growls and blood filled the night. The gorillas were no match for Kim. They hurt her—bad—but she was hurting them worse. The rage from seeing Sek, and another thread coming after her friends. Raw Fury drove her. This wasn’t about winning a fight, it was about sending a message.

  ?Until another howl split the night. Deeper. Ancient and powerful. Breaking the spell rage had put her under.

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  ?A massive red wolf burst into the clearing, a grey one right behind her. She growled so loud it sounded like a lion roaring. Stopping The fight cold. Then she shifted and Mary stepped into the moonlight.

  ?“Well, aren’t we brave,” she said to the Sasquatch. She crouched beside one of the injured grey wolves and rubbed its head gently.

  ?A Sasquatch grunted something.

  ?“We don’t have a treaty,” Mary replied. “We respect the Lokota wolves. They have a treaty with you. We follow it if you don't piss us off!”

  ?The Sasquatch grunted more.

  ?“She didn’t attack you,” Mary continued. “In fact, you didn’t come for her. You didn’t even go for her human friends. No, you went after this tiny pack that has worked so hard to make one of mine feel welcome.”

  ?Another grunt.

  ?“I’ll send along your discontent to Daniel,” Mary said. “Maybe next time he visits he’ll renegotiate your treaty.” Her tone carried a warning.

  ?The creature grunted again but slowly started to leave.

  ?Kim watched them go. They had been maimed, some badly, but so had her Grey Wolf pack. She wanted them dead. A defiant growl burned in her throat.

  ?Mary turned, growling sharply.

  ?Reluctantly, Kim settled. But she stalked behind Mary, ready to pounce. Sarah came up on her other side.

  ?The Sasquatch vanished into the forest. Even their tracks disappeared.

  ?Mary turned to Kim, who was still growling at the trees. “Hello, my brave girl,” she said with a soft smile.

  ?Sarah buried her head into Kim’s fur, nuzzling her.

  ?“I know they hurt your friends,” Mary said. “We’ll get them to the rangers. They know what we are. They’ll get them a vet.”

  ?Kim took a fresh look at Mary and Sarah. They were worried. Sarah’s head had blood on it from nuzzling against her. Kim shifted back to human—and collapsed, legs buckling under the sudden weight of her injuries.

  ?“I’ll get these wolves to the rangers,” Mary said, helping her to sit against a tree. “Get some moonlight. Sarah will get you some fresh game.”

  ?Sarah trotted off dutifully.

  ?“I didn’t mean to defy you,” Kim managed.

  ?Mary crouched beside her. “We’re wolves, dear. Not rabbits. I understand.”

  ?She shifted back to wolf and trotted off after the injured pack.

  ?Sarah returned with an elk before Mary had even vanished from sight.